Guinea-Bissau is holding second round of voting in a presidential run-off election that has two former prime ministers contesting.
In the first round of voting, incumbent President Jose Mario Vaz failed to make it to the second round.
He had been in power for five years but that term witnessed several high-level sackings, an ineffective parliament and political turmoil.
Former Prime minister, Domingos Simoes Pereira finished first with 40% and another former prime minister, Umaro Cissoko Embalo came second with 28% in the November 24 first-round poll.
The ruling PAIGC party’s Domingos Simoes Pereira, 56, is considered the front-runner after winning the first round.
But analysts say the run-off could be close although Umaro Cissoko Embalo is considered political newcomer.
Voting began on Sunday at 0700 GMT and will end at 1700 GMT. The electoral commission is expected to announce the provisional result on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
Voters in Guinea-Bissau started casting their ballots in a presidential runoff today. AU Election Observation Mission #AUEOM observes and assesses the Dec. 29, 2019 presidential elections with a view to contributing to the peacefulness, transparency, and integrity of the election pic.twitter.com/0fK8AS5cJZ
— Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar with @JDMahama (@karrar90) December 29, 2019
Guinea Bissau has experienced nine coups or attempted coups since independence from Portugal in 1974.
In 2012 there was a military takeover and should Vaz completes his term, he will be the first president to do so.
Mr Vaz, 62, has been in office since 2014 after a tight presidential contest that he won in a run-off.
Source: Africafeeds.com
